Page 6 of Single Daddy Doctor Dreamy

“What is it, Rivkin?” I ask, already bracing myself.

“Just thought you should know there’s been some… chatter about your new living arrangement,” he says, his tone dripping with faux concern. “A young, attractive nanny moving in? You know how people love to talk.”

I clench my jaw, forcing myself to stay calm. “I’m not interested in gossip.”

“Of course not,” he says, his smile widening. “But appearances matter, especially for someone with aspirations like yours. Chief of Staff, wasn’t it?”

He walks away before I can respond, leaving a trail of insinuations in his wake. I’ve worked too hard to let petty rumors jeopardize my career, but Rivkin’s words stick with me as I drive home. By the time I pull into the driveway, an idea is forming.

Lucy’s in the kitchen when I walk in, chopping vegetables with Finn standing on a chair beside her, “helping.” She looks up as I enter, her smile easy and genuine. “Hey, you’re just in time. Dinner’s almost ready.”

“Can we talk for a minute?” I ask, my tone more serious than I intend. Her smile falters slightly, and she nods.

“Finn, can you keep an eye on the carrots for me?” she says, setting the knife far from his reach. She follows me into the living room, her expression curious. “What’s up?”

I hesitate, unsure how to start. “I… ran into someone at the hospital today. They mentioned that there’s been some talk about you moving in.”

Her eyebrows lift. “Talk? What kind of talk?”

“Speculative,” I say carefully. “About our… relationship.”

Her cheeks flush, but she doesn’t look away. “I see. And this bothers you?”

“Not exactly. But it could complicate things for me professionally.”

“Ah, so it’s about you,” she says, crossing her arms. There’s a teasing edge to her voice, but I can tell she’s waiting for me to get to the point.

“It’s about both of us,” I say. “And the boys. I was thinking… maybe we could redirect the narrative.”

“Redirect it how?”

“By pretending to be in a relationship,” I say, the words tumbling out faster than I expect. Her eyes widen, and I rush to explain. “Just for appearances. It would make things easier—for the hospital, for the neighbors. Everyone loves a happy story.”

She stares at me, her expression unreadable. “You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend?”

“Yes. Temporarily. Until things settle down.”

There’s a beat of silence, and then she bursts out laughing. It’s not the reaction I expected, but it’s not entirely unwelcome. “Joel, that is… possibly the craziest idea I’ve ever heard. And I’ve heard some wild ones. You know Aiden will go ballistic.”

“So, is that a no?” I ask, fighting back a smile.

She tilts her head, studying me. “It’s a maybe. What exactly would this entail?”

“Nothing dramatic,” I say quickly. “Just a few public appearances. A community event or two. Enough to keep people from asking too many questions.”

Her lips twitch, and I can tell she’s enjoying this more than she’s letting on. “And what happens when the charade is over? Won’t that just fuel more gossip?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” I say, which earns me an eye roll.

“You’re lucky I like the boys,” she says finally. “And you. You’re not so bad, either.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

She grins, and for a moment, the world feels lighter. “This is going to be interesting, and you get to explain it to my overprotective brother.” she says, her tone almost mischievous.

A few days later, the first test of our newfound "relationship" arrives in the form of the Everwood Community Picnic. It’s a big deal—half the town shows up, and the other half talks about it for weeks afterward. The park is already bustling when we arrive, tables loaded with food and decorations strung betweentrees. A group of kids is running around with balloons, their laughter mixing with the faint strains of live music from the gazebo.

Lucy and I step out of the car together, the boys in tow. The moment my feet hit the ground; I feel every set of eyes in the park turn toward us. It’s like the air shifts, the usual chatter dimming to a murmur as people take us in.

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